Greater New Orleans

St. Claude area ready for success

. . . Tipping points, the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.

Bryan Walsh, Time Magazine

Oct. 12, 2007

Has St. Claude Avenue reached its tipping point?

Saturday night, designated by the St. Claude Avenue Arts District as its monthly evening for art lovers, saw pedestrians very much in evidence, gallery-hopping on the avenue.

After a $14 million investment, the old Bywater Hospital at 3419 St. Claude Ave. became the new St. Margaret's Nursing Home last fall.

An Upper 9th Ward Farmers Market takes place every Saturday afternoon at Holy Angels Convent, just across the street.

A few blocks away, the old Universal Furniture building and the St. Roch Market are set for redevelopment.

Another project now can be added to that list.

--- Eliminating poverty ---

A Shared Initiative Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded by the ASI Federal Credit Union in 2006. The parent organization, which was chartered in 1961, has made its goal "the elimination of poverty in all communities we serve."

A Shared Initiative was formed to focus the organization's broader goals in one neighborhood, Bywater and the Upper 9th Ward. Two years ago, they bought a building a block away from St. Margaret's.

Once complete, that $1 million building will be rechristened the Clifford N. Rosenthal Community Center and will house A Shared Initiative as well as a branch of the credit union. Having raised $600,000, the organization is actively raising the remainder.

--- The domino effect ---

Perhaps more importantly, the organization plans to rent most of the 5,700-square-foot building to organizations with parallel goals in the areas of finance, health, education and assistance for the homeless.

Maybe the invitation to other community service organizations to rent space in this building will provide a tipping point. Noting the investment that has already been made, other groups may view A Shared Initiative's investment as proof that St. Claude Avenue is a good place to be.

Perhaps the tipping point will occur when the group has secured more tenants.

In either case, one of the city's major arteries seems poised to tip in a positive direction.

. . . . . . .

ASII's Got Soul, a benefit for A Shared Initiative's Clifford N. Rosenthal Community Center, will feature Sunpie Barnes and will take place Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Republic New Orleans, 828 S. Peters St. For information, call (504) 733-1733, ext. 79214, or visit www.asharedinitiative.org.